for hallarider Modern AU

[pavus_redemit]

An affair with a student could get him in quite a bit of trouble but Dorian cared very little for the politics of the University. Of course, it helped that he had tenure now. No one would doubt that Dorian Pavus was a leading expert in Roman history and traditions, especially those pertaining to to death. The University was lucky to have him as a Professor. There were plenty in Rome who had many offers that were very, very generous. They could over look his personal affairs, mostly his tendency to party. This was the first time he had taken up with a student.

It wasn't as if Bramen was in his program or the student he was advising. Those students were strictly off limits because it was a professional relationship. Bramen? He was just a random student that had ended up in his class that was clever enough to warrant Dorian's attention. That attention had gone into romantic feelings and well, here they were.

The relationship didn't interfere with his work any. Dorian was in his office, grading papers that he had promised his students would be done by the end of the week. He still had plenty of time to do so. He was waiting for Bramen to get home from his shift but that thought was in the back of his mind. He was not sitting at the door waiting like some sort of excited puppy. He was smitten, yes, but he wouldn't let that interfere with his work.

Tonight, he was hungry and recovering from his hangover. Hangovers always made him hungry because he couldn't stand to eat anything for a few hours until the worst of it passed. He had his ginger tea which kept his stomach down and hydrated him which was what he desperately needed. Once Bramen got home with dinner Dorian would jump all over that.

Comments

[pavus_redemit]

"Don't dent my door!" Dorian called back as he slid his glasses off and set down his red pen. Food, thank God, got him moving faster than anything else.

He was at the door in a few seconds, opened it for his boyfriend and leaned in for a kiss before he stepped back to actually let him in. "Welcome home, darling."

Dorian closed the door behind him and held out a hand to take the bag from him if he wanted to hand it over. There's no need for Bramen to hang on to everything.

[hallarider]

Don't dent my door. That almost made Bramen roll his eyes - almost. Once Dorian came to the door and gave him a kiss, Bramen could only smile, happily handing the man the bag that held their dinner. He appreciated Dorian taking that, giving him the opportunity to readjust the portfolio under his arm, moving into the large apartment and setting that down on a table nearby. His shoulder bag ended up on the floor, set down lightly before he removed camera from around his neck, slipping off his chucks.

"Sera tried to convince me to take the rest of her shift," he said, snorting through his nose. "Good thing I had a client for a shoot this afternoon," he held his camera by the strap before closing the door, cradling it once the door was shut. He'd have to put it away properly in its case after. He knew he needed to take better care of it.

"A five hour shift and she nags me for four and a half of them," he said with a snort, picking up his bag and moving into the open living room to set things down properly. "Client is looking for some photos of his dog - I got a few good shots of it at the park but he wants another session tomorrow morning, different lightning and all that. He's paying good money though, already gave me a deposit - paid for dinner and then some," he flashed a smile to his lover, who was presently unpcaking their meal. No doubt scrutinizing it, making sure they got exactly the right things.

Of course, when it came to dim sum, Dorian was never one to complain.

"Did you get any grading done like you wanted?"

[pavus_redemit]

It was a bit strange to have someone so comfortable in his space and that Dorian was comfortable with. Bramen moved around like he belonged and Dorian liked it. That alone spoke volumes to Dorian about how this relationship was going.

"I got most of it. I was slow this morning for reasons we already discussed." That hangover had really hurt him but he refused to admit he was too old for the partying he continued to do. "Your paper was left for last like you requested. I spoil you."

The dinner was perfect. Dorian breathed the delicious smell of it in as he set it out on the table. He hoped Bramen would set the table once he made himself comfortable.

[hallarider]

Bramen wasn't really certain what to call the relationship they were in. Over his life, he'd only been in a few relationships, had a few one night stands. That was originally what he'd thought this would turn out to be but somehow, it wasn't. They hadn't really discussed what it was but here they were. Here Bramen was, in Dorian's home, comfortable as though it were his own. Here Bramen was, having dinner with the man, prepared to settle in and spend the remainder of the evening here with him. His laptop was on the coffee table, just where he'd left it that morning - and his camera now joined it, moving towards the kitchen where Dorian was getting their dinner ready.

He didn't even need to be asked about setting the table. Bramen was on the ball, pulling out plates, the good chopsticks (as opposed to the splintery ones that came with their meal - such good food but so cheap when it came to take out) and opening the fridge to get out a bottle of Perrier.

"I spoil you all the same," Bramen grinned, moving over towards where Dorian stood and kissing his cheek. "Are we going to sit at the table and get out the candles or would you rather sit on the couch and feed each other while you tell me about your day?"

Or watched something trashy on television. Whichever Dorian decided.

[pavus_redemit]

"Candles are for romantic meals like steak," he points out as he smiled at Bramen. His lover had some strange ideas sometimes but Dorian was learning to roll with such things. "Why don't we eat at the table and keep the food away from your precious camera?"

He was the sort of man who used to eat at his desk each night unless out with friends or fellow professors. The couch was where they usually ended up but Dorian really didn't want Bramen's nice camera getting something spilled on it. It was his livelihood after all.

"I can tell you about my day from here just as easily."

[hallarider]

His camera was his livelihood, outside of working at a coffee shop. He could make more money in a day with his camera than he could in two weeks at the shop though - and he'd proven that more than once. He did appreciate Dorian's concern though - that never went unnoticed.

Bramen moved to get some glasses from the cupboard, filling them up the fizzy Perrier water as he flashed Dorian another smile. "Dim sum can be romantic too," he laughed, handing Dorian a pair of chopsticks before he moved the glasses to the table.

"But I'd still like to hear how your day went," he said, sidling up beside Dorian and opening his mouth, hoping his boyfriend would give him some siu mai to start with.

[pavus_redemit]

He used the chopsticks to feed Bramen a piece of his favorite siu mai because his lover was entirely predictable sometimes. "I had a horrible morning."

Horrible was a gentle way of saying it. Dorian was a bit drunk when he woke up and also hungover. It was a horrible combination.

"Mostly I struggled to get my common sense back. I'm not sure how my young, attractive lover keeps talking me in to drinking."

[hallarider]

Bramen chewed the dumpling contentedly before kissing Dorian's cheek once more. "I'm not sure how that cute, young lover of yours keeps talking you into drinking," he said, moving to sit at the table now, "But you're the one who insisted on doing body shots off of me last night."

Bramen at least had some semblance of self-control for the most part. Dorian was a slave to his passions, a man who enjoyed the finer things - and knew how to enjoy himself. Even if the resulting hangover the next morning left something to be desired. Bramen had been with him all night though, only leaving in the morning when he got called in to work. A shame, he would've liked to stay in bed with Dorian the rest of the morning if he'd been able to.

"I hope the shower wasn't too confusing in the end."

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian laughed because every word Bramen said was true. He had done it all to himself. Bramen was simply an excuse.

"Well, it's a very beautiful body," he said as he picked a dumpling for himself. He took a moment to chew and think over things. "Perhaps I went a little overboard but I enjoyed myself and I enjoyed you. The hangover was worth it."

That was often how Dorian saw things. Was it worth the suffering? Yes. It was the same reason he left the wealth and power his father offered so that he could be happy. It was a long time for that to pay off but he wasn't dead inside.

"I figured it out after a few moments. It was nice."

[hallarider]

"We'll hold off drinking tonight," he said, reaching for a dumpling as well, he held it for the moment as he watched the man, gazing at him fondly. Dorian did do it all to himself but he enjoyed himself. That was the important part. He enjoyed himself, he dealt with the aftermath like an adult.

Even if once, the aftermath involved waking up with a student in his bed. Bramen was still here though, so he must have done something right.

"Hold off drinking, find a few other ways to enjoy ourselves tonight" he teased before popping the dumpling into his mouth and chewing, drinking his water to wash it down. "I have a bit of homework to finish and some photos I'll need to edit after we eat," he said, picking up another piece - holding this one out for Dorian to take. "I'll do that while you work on your lesson plan for tomorrow? Or did you already get that out of the way?"

[pavus_redemit]

The waking up with a student had been a shock to his system. Dorian was much happier about it these days.

"I didn't plan on drinking tonight." He had thought about wine with dinner but then Bramen had gotten the water and he put aside thoughts of wine. Water was good.

He leaned forward enough to take the offered dumpling. It was quite fun eating this way. "The lesson plan was done before I graded papers. It's much easier to do hungover as I've done them for many years."

He could write lesson plans in his sleep at this point. "You can do your work and I'll finish the few papers I have left. I may yell at you about yours. We'll see how well you've done."

[hallarider]

Dorian would either scoff and scold him over any inaccuracies he found in the paper or he would move in close, stroke along his thigh and kiss his neck if he read something that just so happened to tickle his fancy in just the right way. Bramen was quite prepared for both. He took another dumping and another sip of his water, offering up a light shrug.

"I have a short test I need to do for one of my classes, just a quiz online. I'll need about half an hour for that - you can read it after I'm finished with that." It would be easier to deal with whatever attentions Dorian wanted to give him when he was editing photographs.

"Did you do anything else today?"

[pavus_redemit]

"My life, when I am not out with you, is not terribly exciting," he said, his tone dry.

For all the fun he could have Dorian was actually a bit of a homebody. He liked his quiet time and reading alone. The best evenings with Bramen where the ones where they stayed in and sat around together.

He felt like such an old man when he said things like that but he knew one day that would be his life. He would teach, he would stay home and be an incredibly simple man.

[hallarider]

A simple, boring old man was more than enough excitement for Bramen. He enjoyed just relaxing with Dorian too - each of them sitting quietly, doing their own thing in the same room. Dorian reading, Bramne working on his computer, perhaps the man would put on some music in the background. Classical or smooth jazz, something nice but not distracting. Bramen appreciated those quiet moments. He appreciated them a great deal.

The people his own age lacked the sort of refinement Dorian had. He could be fun, he could be subdued but most importantly, even if his sometimes wild behaviour said otherwise, he understood the importance of moderation.

"I'm just glad you managed to relax and clear your head a bit," Bramen mused, drinking again. "Oh - and that reminds me... The client I met in the park. I've seen him before. He's friends with one of the professors in the English department, the... Little person," Bramen struggled to recall the man's name, feeling a bit guilty on that, "Professor Tethras?"

[pavus_redemit]

"Varric, he's very in to Hemingway," he said with a nod. He knew the other professor. "A friend of mine is married to his cousin. We've known each other casually for awhile."

It was a strange twist of fate that they were teaching at the same University. Dorian was rather amused by it. Varric was a pleasant man with a strange aversion to buttoning his shirts.

"I'm not terribly familiar with all of his friends but I might recognize the name," he offered after eating another dumpling. He really enjoyed these sorts of dinners where he got to talk and enjoy the company of his lover.

[hallarider]

Bramen tapped his chopsticks against the table, nodding as Dorian mentioned the professor's name. "Right - Varric Tethras. He knows your friend, Mae," he said, recalling Dorian mentioning the woman a few times. "It's his friend, Hawke, do you know him?" he asked, canting his head a bit before he took another drink.

"He has a really big dog, a mastiff or something like that," he said, waving his hand a little, dismissing whatever breed the animal was. He just knew it was a big, muscular dog that the man seemed to dote on.

[pavus_redemit]

"I don't know him personally," Dorian explained as he split the last siu mai. It was good and Bramen technically got one extra since Dorian fed him one before. "I know a great deal of him thanks to Varric's stories. He's some sort of local hero cop or something."

Dorian tended to think Varric had to be exaggerating some of the stories he told about Hawke but he listened all the same. "He's quite a nice man, I imagine, if he's so gone over a dog."

[hallarider]

"Yeah, it looks like he's an officer of some sort," Bramen said, finishing the siu mai. "He wore his uniform, I got a few photos of him with the dog. He does seem like a pretty nice guy. Dog was ewll behaved too, almost makes me want one," he said with a shrug, though he knew it would be quite difficult to keep a dog given his present situation.

Between classes, his job, his photography - it was a wonder he had time for anything. Dorian was quite good at filling that time, however.

"Maybe a cat would be better - someday, at least."

[pavus_redemit]

Dorian could see Bramen with dogs or cats, some sort of animal. The man was rather fond of them. He, on the other hand, could take it or leave it. Animals were alright but not terribly exciting.

"Maybe one day you can have both," he said, because sadly he would tolerate both for Bramen. It was rather terrifying to think that far in the future but those thoughts kept sneaking up on him.

"In the meantime, you can make money off of other people's pets. It seems a fair trade to me."

[hallarider]

"Bramen Lavellan, pet photos and artistic nudes, saving up to buy a horse," he teased with a laugh, reaching out to touch Dorian's wrist. He gave it a squeeze and a light pat before reaching out to finish his water, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand.

"Though I do want to do a few more artistic shots of you," he said with a smile, glancing towards the man with a hint of fondness and a hint of mischief. "Those artsy shots where I crop out part of your face and you aren't wearing anything."

Dorian was always a wonderful subject to photograph, whether it was for one of his projects or merely for a private piece.

[pavus_redemit]

"Well, it sounds like you've made plans for our next day off together," he said with a slow smile.

Bramen's pictures of him were very beautiful but the photo sessions were incredibly fun. Dorian had really enjoyed the last one they did.

"You tell me how you want me and I will be your perfect subject."

[hallarider]

"Maybe," he said with a light shrug, content to keep touching his partner's wrist, smiling contentedly. "Provided you want to wake up early enough. I was thinking about getting shots of you in the morning light," he finally pulled his hand away, moving to stand up to get a bit more water. "Maybe something with a little religious symbolism," he mused, looking back towards Dorian.

"My photography glass really liked the last set I did, you know," he said, filling his glass again before he moved back to the table, bottle in hand as he refilled Dorian's glass as well. "The ones I did in black and white, with you covered in glitter... And that close-up of your mouth, when that butterfly landed on your face. That one turned out incredibly nice, considering I only managed to get a few shots of that before it flew away."

The class had been rather pleased with the aesthetics of Bramen's anonymous subject. The hardest part had been editing out the man's tattoos - though he kept one of the originals as the wallpaper of his phone.

[pavus_redemit]

"With the right motivation I can wake up early for you, darling." It would be difficult but as long as he wasn't hungover he could be woken up for the morning.

He shook his head. "Darling, I was spitting glitter for weeks after that. Please don't tell me you want to use glitter again."

They were beautiful pictures, yes, but the glitter had been insanely difficult to get away from. He felt he was was covered in it for months. "But whatever you'd like besides that I'll be fine with."

[hallarider]

"I'm sure I'll figure something out. Maybe we'll stick to body paint this time," he shrugged, standing behind the man who still sat at the table. His arms moved around Dorian's shoulders, rubbing them a little before he moved in to embrace him. He rested his cheek atop the man's head, nuzzling against his hair.

"I'll have to set the timer up at some point, try and get a few personal shots of us," those would just be for fun. Private things neither man would need to share. Maybe get one framed, put it somewhere in the living room or even in Dorian's office. His hands idly brushed along his lover's chest, turning his head to press a kiss against the top of the man's head.

"You can finish the rest if you want. I should get around to doing that quiz."

[pavus_redemit]

He leaned back towards Bramen when he settled around him. His lover was very affectionate but Dorian never minded. His presence was very comforting.

"You're the artist, darling, whatever pictures you want." He tipped his head back against his shoulder as he reached up to squeeze his arm. "Though, pictures of us is a very tempting idea. I would love to have a few of you."

He has silly little cellphone pictures but they weren't the same as a full portrait or the sexy kind that Bramen took.